Back to motorsport success with a Silver Arrow and streamlining
Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss drove the Mercedes-Benz W 198 R, the famous streamlined car, to many spectacular successes. In 1965, Mercedes-Benz donated the iconic racing car to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Now this very special piece is to find a new owner on February 1, 2025 - in keeping with its status at an exclusive event organized by RM Sotheby's in Stuttgart in collaboration with Mercedes-Benz Classic. The price achieved is likely to be just as impressive as the racing history of the W 196 R.
The W 196 R with chassis no. 00009/54 is one of only four known complete examples with streamlined bodywork and closed fenders. The car is part of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum's outstanding collection, which is being sold by RM Sotheby's to fund the museum's collection and restoration work.
Few historic racing cars are as famous as the Mercedes-Benz "Silver Arrows". They dominated Grand Prix racing in the immediate pre- and post-war period and were admired for their advanced engineering and sensational speeds. The W 196 R was developed to comply with the regulations for vehicles with an engine capacity of up to 2.5 liters that came into force in 1954. It soon proved to be almost unbeatable with legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Stirling Moss at the wheel.
The W 196 R had an in-line eight-cylinder engine with a displacement of 2494 cubic centimeters and an elaborately mounted Hirth crankshaft. The engine with fuel injection essentially consisted of two four-cylinder engines, each with two camshafts for intake and exhaust. This gem guarantees reliable and consistent power output and delivered 213 kW (290 hp) after two years of development.
The new formula of 1954 placed few restrictions on the bodywork. Mercedes-Benz therefore decided to develop both a streamlined, aerodynamic body with enclosed wheels to optimize the vehicle for high-speed circuits. There was also an open body with free-standing wheels for more winding tracks.
The new Mercedes-Benz racing cars made their debut at the French Grand Prix in Reims with three new W 196 R streamlined cars. Mercedes-Benz achieved a one-two victory: the driver team of Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling and Hans Herrmann finished first, second and seventh, with Herrmann setting the fastest lap of the race. The race was a great success for Mercedes-Benz on its return to racing. Juan Manuel Fangio secured the 1954 Formula 1 World Championship with the new Silver Arrow.
Chassis number 00009/54 in competition
The W 196 R was further developed for the 1955 season. The engine was improved in many ways, including a new intake manifold. The open body with free-standing wheels was chosen for almost all races in 1955, with improvements and modernizations resulting in a weight reduction of around 70 kilograms compared to its predecessors. The racing team also recruited Stirling Moss to strengthen its driver line-up.
The formula-free Argentine Grand Prix in Buenos Aires on January 30, 1955 was the first race for chassis number 00009/54, equipped with the open monoposto body and with Juan Manuel Fangio at the wheel. Fangio took pole position and ultimately won the race, which was held over two heats.
In 1955, the Monza racetrack was upgraded with a new high-speed corner, which is legendary in the motorsport world. For the Italian Grand Prix, it was therefore decided to equip the chassis with the number 00009/54 with the streamlined bodywork for the first time in the 1955 season and to enter Stirling Moss as the driver. Fangio secured pole position in a similar car, while Moss started from second place on the grid. Moss took the lead from Fangio on the ninth lap, but only finished in seventh place due to mechanical problems. Nevertheless, the Englishman in chassis number 00009/54 drove the fastest lap of the race with a time of 2:46.900 minutes and an average speed of 215.7 km/h.
At the end of the 1955 Formula 1 season, Fangio won the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship for the second time in a row. Moss took second place, sealing the legendary status of the W 196 R.
The racing qualities of the W 196 R were now beyond doubt. In two seasons, the W 196 model family - which also included the two-seater 300 SLR (W 196 S) racing car variant - had won three championships in two different racing series. In twelve outings in Formula 1, the W 196 R had won nine times in commanding style, plus two victories in competitions that did not count as points races, making a total of eleven victories in 14 starts.
In 1964, chassis number 00009/54 was donated to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and officially handed over to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation on Sunday, May 30, 1965. For nearly six decades, the W 196 R was carefully cared for and maintained by the IMS Museum.
The race car is only the second W 196 R ever offered to private individuals and the first example with the streamlined body. It is presented in its original Monza livery from the 1955 Italian Grand Prix and is equipped with a wealth of contemporary materials.
More info for topic: Mercedes-Benz W 196 R , Stromlinienkarosserie , 1984 , Sothebys , Mewrcedes-Benz Heritage , Versteigerung , 1. Februar 2025
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